Jealousy can drive people mad, as much as it can render them excessively rational. This may be a contrived answer, but there are people in this world whose anger makes their hearts clear of emotion, almost entirely logical.

Elizabeth is a noble duchess, the beautiful and graceful 'Blood Rose' of the Titans Empire, a woman wielding supreme authority, without equal!

She is the sole heir to the family of "God's Beloved," the Venus clan, even commanding her own loyal order of knights! She shines brilliantly, esteemed above all, as if God's cherished child!

But I am merely a despicable bastard, a half-elf of mixed blood, a wretch discarded by the Fairmuth family, a 'delicate gift' for Lady Elizabeth...

Even though Lady Ireland gave me a supreme starting point, even though the mysterious Master Gamma provided me with a path forward...

So what?

I am still that despised bastard; what I have has not transformed into real power; the freedom I have is at the charity of this beautiful woman, charity...

Does a 'toy' have the right to demand loyalty from its owner?

Felix bowed his head, smiling quietly, his eyes squinting slightly, not wanting anyone to see the vulnerability in his gaze. With his sweetest and most innocent voice, he said softly, "Respected Lady Elizabeth, I'm just feeling a little unwell."

Felix's near-perfect performance deceived everyone, even Lady Elizabeth thought his somber expression was just an illusion.

The usually good-spirited Lady Elizabeth took Felix's small hand and walked slowly towards the hall, stroking his brown, beautiful long hair, softly saying, "If you're feeling unwell, you should rest well."

Felix nodded obediently without speaking, only touching the necklace on his neck. The Virgin Mary spread her arms embracing the earth, half her wings angelic, the other half demonic.

"Lady Ireland..."

Tonight was unusually quiet, the weary Lady Elizabeth needed rest, and Felix needed a peaceful corner.

God said: Man is a lamb, and lambs fear loneliness for they are weak.

The Shadow Queen Christie told Master Gamma: Fear of loneliness, accustomed to loneliness, loneliness breeds madness, and madness is the strength of Master Gamma!

The next day was a bright morning.

Felix woke up as the sunlight descended upon the land, while Lady Elizabeth unusually lingered in bed, and even the always early-rising Catherine was nowhere to be seen.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Perhaps she was too tired yesterday," Felix thought as he elegantly ate his breakfast. He lightly sipped his wine and wiped his mouth with a napkin, his delicate, beautiful young face showing a hint of a mocking smile, bizarre and eerily delusional.

Today, Felix was exceptionally amiable. While the maid dressed him in his snow-white priestly robe, he even gave a gentle smile and a soft thank you to the beautiful maid who had spent the night with him. She blushed, her beautiful, bare face downcast in silence. On any other day, Felix would've teased her by pinching her soft cheeks, but today, he simply raised his slender eyebrows and left the Duchess Elizabeth's mansion.

His steps were slow and determined, his sense of numbers honed by his expertise in alchemy, calculating as if by precise machinery.

When sunlight flooded the earth again, Felix returned to Saint Erde Cathedral. He saw Lilia waiting for him at the door, her anxious pure face breaking into a serene smile upon seeing him, like a quietly blooming rose.

Felix smiled as he pinched her smooth cheek, holding her small hand in his while she gave a shy smile. This innocent nun appeared younger yet was inherently simple despite being older than himself.

"Has someone already become impatient enough to make a move against me?" Felix smiled calmly, but a storm of violent emotions raged in his heart like an unending blaze. He stepped slowly into the prayer room, where he saw the white-robed elder he'd met once before—the mysterious ascetic known as 'His Holiness the Pope of Euripides.'

The nuns, anxious and uneasy, seemed to find their spine at the sight of Felix, consciously standing in line on both sides of the path, their eyes filled with hope as they watched Felix approach.

They were the treasure that Lady Ireland had left for Felix.

They belonged to him!

"This is His Holiness the Pope of the Annecy Penitential Retreat of Euripides. We are here on behalf of the Vatican to requisition Saint Erde Cathedral," announced a middle-aged priest in red ceremonial robes, looking down at Felix with a supremely condescending air. "As for you, His Holiness has other plans."

The Annecy Penitential Retreat, "Haven of Rest," guardians of the Holy Light, the world's most devout group of ascetics...

Felix's lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes cold as the frost in a chilling wasteland. He faced the red-robed priest, his fingers lightly touching the "Blue Crystal" on his slender hand, his voice cold as a drawn sword: "Are you threatening me?"

"You..."

When the dazzling light of the "Blue Crystal" illuminated the prayer room, the white-robed elder's pupils contracted sharply. A hint of horror crossed his wrinkled, aged face. He gestured to stop the red-robed priest from showing force to Felix and watched him with an incredulously amazed gaze. After a long pause, he slowly said, "Child, perhaps we could make a trade."

A trade?

Felix watched the enigmatic Pope before him and bowed his head slightly in a gesture of basic respect.

"Your Excellency, Pope Euripides of Saint Erde Cathedral, it belongs to me until Lady Ireland returns!" Felix's voice was unwaveringly firm, with the desperation of one ready to risk it all. He raised his head and spoke firmly: "If your trade is not about this, I am all ears."

The existence of the mysterious Gamma Master was well known in the world, and Felix was sure the enigmatic Pope before him knew of the Gamma Master and even the "Blue Crystal" as the Master's token—a symbol of a great and evil being.

Despite the Gamma Master having left this plane last night, Felix didn't believe that this Pope would have found out so quickly.

He was gambling!

And he had won!

With a non-existent card, he had built for himself a barrier above the common world!

Even though the Gamma Master had left this plane, his glory still protected Felix...

The Forgotten Ones!

Even gods fear to be forgotten...